Water-seal valve.



w. THUMM.

- WATER SEAL VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. [1914.

1 1%1,668@ Patented June 1, 1915.

22195525": l5? 1/97 85?" I m wzzzzimm Thamm WILLIAM THUMJYZ, 0B CHEGfiQQ, XLEJNOIS.

WATEEZhSEAL VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

menses.

Patented June 1, i915.

hpplication filed. march 3. 19M. flerial No. 822,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM THUMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chi cag'o, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Seal Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to valves arranged and adapted to be attached to a radiator or other heating element for the purpose of permitting the escapement of air from the radiator, and for preventing the undue escapement of steam therefrom.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a valve of the class above specified which is cheap and simple of construction; to so arrange the various parts of the valve as to enable the same to be easily adjusted or arranged to permit of a blowing out of the system; to provide means for venting the air from the valve casing; to provide means for adjusting the degree of opening in the venting means; and to so arrange the interior parts of the valve as to provide a water seal which will act to prerent undue escapement of steam from the radiator into the return pipe ofthe system.

The invention further consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the valve of the present invention showing the parts thereof in normal operative position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 butshowing certain portions of the valve in elevation and showing the interior mechanism of the valve adjusted or arranged to permit of a blowing out of the system; Fig. 3 a section on line 3-3 of Fig.1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. lis a sectional detail 01". the 'air vent showing the same in closed or inoperative position; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to F i g. l showing the vent open and in inoperative position.

The present invention, as stated, is intended and adapted for attaehment to a radiator or other heating member to permit the venting of air therefrom and the conserving of steam therein. The valve is more particularly adapted for use with low pressure systems and the theory of operation is to form a body of Water therein which will act as a water seal to prevent the escapement of steam from the radiator into the return pipe of the system.

Referring now to the drawings, and paris formed with a passage 8 which constitutes the outlet from the casing. This out let passage is placed in communication with the return pipe of the system. A neck 9 is also provided on said casing and is located as shown intermediate the upper and lower edge thereof and this neck 9 is formed with a passage 10 which communicates with. the, interior of the radiator, and a suitablefcoupling is provided for connecting the casing to the radiator.

The interior mechanism of the valve con sists of a sleeve 12, a tubular member 13, and air vent mechanism 14 The sleeve 12, as shown, is attached to a member 14 which is threaded into the upper end of the casing, and this member is provided with a shoulder 15 which rests against the upper edge of the casing and forms a steam tight joint to prevent leakage of steam at this point. This member in. the construction shown may be said to constitute a portion of the cap piece which closes the upper end of the easing and constitutes the carrying member for the sleeve 12, as will be seen from the drawings the sleeve 12 terminates short of the floor of the casing leaving a space between its end and the said floor.

The tubular member 13, as will be seen from Fig. 1, is adapted to have its lower end 16 entered into the upper portion of the passage 8, and the said lower end 16 is arranged to have a sliding fit with respect to the walls of said passage. This member 16 is provided with an opening or openings 17 located intermediate its extremities and through these openings the water of 0on densation and air passes from the interior of the casing through the bore or passage in said member and into the discharge passage. The tubular member is carried by a. head-like member 18 Which,as shown, has a threaded engagement with the member 14, and when the tubular member is positioned as in Fig. 1, the member 18 has its upper portion seated on the upper portion of the member 14 whereby the members 14: and 18 combine to form a complete cap or closure 3 for the open upper end of the casing.

The object in forming the carrying memher 18 for the tubular member in a manner so that it can be moved independently of the movement of the member H and sleeve 12, is to easily and quickly permit the parts the system for a substantial period of time and will rind or wear the valves thereof in an undesirable manner, and hence it is customary when the systems are first installed to open vup the valves and blow steam through the system for the purpose of carrying oil and eliminating the sand and grit from the interior of the pipes and radiators.

The system could not be blown out with theinterior portions of the valve in the position shown in Fig. 1, since the direct discharge from the lower end of the casing into the return pipe would not be obtained and the dirt or sediment blown from the radiator would merely collect in the lower part of the casing. Also the cap or cover closing the upper end of the casing must not be removed or substantially withdrawn from system in a manner to eiliciently remove the closing position since if this were done the dirt, sediment and steam incident to the blowing out operation would be discharged and scattered over the room in an undesired manner, and moreover owing to such leakage, steam could not be forced through the dirt or sediment.

In the present invention means have been provided to position ,or arrange thefinterior member 13 out from engagement with the portions of the valve whereby this blowing out process may be accomplished without removing the closure for the open end of the casingand at the same time permit a direct discharge from the lower portion of the interior of the casing into the return pipe of the system. This arrangement is effected by turning the member 18 a distance to bring the lower end 16 of the tubular walls of the outlet 8 and clear of said outlet; that is the tubular member is brought into a position similar to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is evident from a study of said figure that a free, clear and direct passage is provided between the lower.

portion of-the interior of the casing and the outlet 8, and it is also clear that in provid ing such free passage the open upper end of the casing is maintained in a closed condition whereby no leakage of steam etc. at this point is permitted. The adjustment of the parts from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in 'Fig. 2 or vice verse is a sim lo and quick operation, and, therefore, this blowing out operation can be accomplished with the valve of the present invention in a simple and quick manner and without any inconvenience or objectionable disorganization of the valve parts.

Referring now to the air vent mechanism- Which is shown more in detail in Figs, 4 and 5, this consists of a plug 19 provided at one end with a head 20 and at its opposite end with an exterior threaded surface 21. This threaded surface meshes and engages with an interior threadedsurface of a tube 22 formed integral with orsecured to the sleeve 12 adjacent the upperend of said sleeve. The interior bore of this tube 22 is increased for a portion thereof as at 23, a cross here or cross bores 24: are formed in said plug and extending partially through the plug and communicating with the cross bores 2% is an axial or-longitudinal bore 25; head 26 is provided with a seating lacs 27 which when the vent is closed seats against the inner end 28 of the tube 22. With the parts as shown in Fig. 4 it is obvious that no passage of air is ermitted from the exterior to the interior 0 the sleeve 12 through the vent. But with the parts shown in Fig. 5 the head 26 is out of 'seatin with the end of the tube 22 an air. therefore is free to flow through the passage 25, into the cross passage 24:, into-the space 23, and thence to the interior of the sleeve 12, where it passes into the opening 17, thence through The engagement 1 the interior of the tubular member 13 into .steam will collect and condense within the casing in the form of Water of condensation. After the water has collected to a degree to reach above the lower end of the sleeve 12 it is obvious that a free passage of steam from the interior of the casing-through the member 13 and into the return pipe is no longer permitted. The water of condensation in the casing forms a seal which prevents steam passing between the sleeve 12 and tubular member 13 and through the tubular member to the return pipe. The water of condense tion will continue to rise within the casing until it has reached the opening or openings 17, and it will then commence to flow,

throughv such opening into the tubular momher and into the return pipe so that after the water has accumulated to such a height a constant water seal will he maintained withmenses in the casing which will extend from the floor thereof to the opening or openings 17, thus providing a water seal WhiClrWlll prevent an undue escapement of steam from the radiator into the return pipe and thus serve to seal up and conserve the steam Within the radiator and maintain the heating efhciency thereof.

' It will be noted that the air vent is above the line which marks the height of the water seal and thus air can always escape above said seal into the space between the sleeve 12 and tubular member 13 and thence through the tubular member into the return pipe. \Vhile the opening provided is suffifreezing of the water within the valve might take place.

I claim:

1. In a. valve of the. class described, the combination of a casing'inclosing a chamber for water of condensation and having an open upper end, said chamber having a bottom outlet and a side inlet between its upper and lower ends, a closure cap for the open upper end of the chamber, said cap comprising an outer section adapted to be threaded into the open upper .end of the casing and in close engagement vith the end face of the wall of the casing and an independently movable central section threaded into the outer section, the threaded engagement having a sufiicicnt length for a partial with drawal of the central section without breaking the closure of. the cap for the open end of the casing, a sleeve carried by the outer section and depending into the casing chamber with its lower end terminating above the bottom wall of the. casing, a hollow member carried by the central section of the closure cap and having an axial passage in communication with the outlet and the chamber of the casing, the lower end of the hollow member projecting into the mouth of the outlet when the central section of the closure cap isfully entered into position, and closing direct communication between. the chamber of the casing and the outlet, the partial receding of the central section of the cap withdrawing the end of the hollow member and opening direct communication between the chamber and'the outlet without impairing the closure for the upper endof the chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a valve of the class described, the combination of a casing inclosing a chamber for water of condensation and having an open upper end, said chamber having a bottom outlet and a side inlet between its upper and lower ends, a closure cap for the open upper end of the chamber of the casing, said cap comprising an outer section adapted .to be entered into and closely engage the wall of the casing at its upper end and an independently movable central section closely entered into and engaging the outer section the length of engagement between the cen tral section and outer section being oi sufilcient length for a partlal withdrawal of the central section without breaking the closure of the cap at the open end of the casing,

a sleeve secured at its upper end to the outer section of the closure cap and downwardly extending into the chamber with its lower end terminating above the bottom of the chamber. a tubular member downwardly extending from the centrial section of the closure cap and passing through the sleeve with its lower end, when the central section of the cap is fully entered, projecting into the mouth of the outlet and closing direct communication between the chamber and outlet and adapted to be raised with the partial withdrawal of the central section of the closure cap and open communication direct between the chamber of the casing and the outlet breaking the closure oi the cap, said tubular member having an axial passage with side ports for discharging wateroi condensation, substantially as desc WILLIAM THU Witnesses SAMUEL W. Bmasxxo. WM. P. Bone 

